Matthews and Monroe students to experience
UNC's Destiny science learning program

Media representatives are invited to climb aboard Discovery, one of the traveling
science laboratories from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's
Destiny science learning program, when it visits three Union
County high schools in Matthews and Monroe next week.

Tuesday (Dec. 12)
8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
1:40 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Weddington High School
4901 Monroe Weddington Road, Matthews
Students from two of Juan Roldan's biology classes will perform a lab exercise
called Case of the Crown Jewels. Students will assume the role of forensic scientists
and perform DNA restriction analysis (popularly known as DNA fingerprinting)
to analyze drops of blood and other kinds of evidence found at crime scenes
as they determine which suspects are guilty or innocent.

Wednesday (Dec. 13)
8:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
Piedmont High School
3006 Sikes Mill Road, Monroe
Students from one of Tonya Adams' chemistry classes will perform a lab exercise
called The Crucial Concentration. Students will assume the role of laboratory
investigators for a court case to determine the amount of protein found in three
sports drinks. Using the general concept of the Lowry Assay and microanalysis
skills, students will learn how to use a spectrophotometer, measure absorbencies,
collect quantitative data, and produce a standard curve to find the protein
content in each sample.

Wednesday (Dec. 13)
10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
1:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Piedmont High School
3006 Sikes Mill Road, Monroe
Students from two of Beth Walker's biology classes will perform a lab exercise
called Case of the Crown Jewels. Students will assume the role of forensic scientists
and perform DNA restriction analysis (popularly known as DNA fingerprinting)
to analyze drops of blood and other kinds of evidence found at crime scenes
as they determine which suspects are guilty or innocent.

Thursday (Dec. 14)
10:06 a.m. to 11:36 a.m.
1:48 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Monroe High School
1 High School Drive, Monroe
Students from two of Sandra Ketchie's classes will perform a lab exercise called
Biological Bodyguards. Students will examine the vital role that the body's
immune system takes to fight illness and prevent disease. Assuming the role
of medical lab technicians, students will use a simulated viral extract and
perform an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to screen hypothetical patients
for the presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

The Destiny traveling science learning program is the Morehead Planetarium
and Science Center's formal science education initiative serving pre-college
teachers and students across North Carolina. Destiny develops and delivers a
standards-based, hands-on curriculum and teacher professional development with
a team of educators and a fleet of vehicles that travel throughout the state.

Destiny and Discovery, two custom-built, 40-foot, 33,000-pound buses, bring
the latest science and technology equipment to students who otherwise would
not see a high-tech laboratory or what a career in science can offer. The modules
described above are among 13 offered as part of Destiny's curriculum. All of
Destiny's modules are aligned with the N.C. Standard Course of Study.

The science buses are powerful visual images that heighten public awareness
of the importance of and funding necessary for quality science education. Destiny
first hit the road in 2000.